Welcome to my Garden Blog

Gardens: touched by loving hands. Cultivated, nurtured. Drinking in those landscapes is wonderful, as well.

In my garden one enjoys some of both. Generally unpruned & wild, my plants reshape the garden as they grow.

Beyond the garden borders, natives from the Santa Monica Mtns await. Oak trees with their shady canopies. Cactus & Sage in the sun.

Always there are animal creatures to join in the fun.

I look forward to sharing some of my experiences with you as they unfold.

Friday, April 22, 2011

Topanga at Springtime

Pink Jasmine (Jasminum polyanthum), Topanga, CA, Photo by Kathy Vilim

The sweet, delicate fragrance of Jasmine drifts through the open window from across the street .. heady, overpowering, delicious.. intoxicating. Stronger for some reason in this pre-dawn darkness. My cat purrs huskily atop my cocooned body as we both drink it in.

Springtime in Topanga Canyon. This is the time of year to enjoy the scent of Jasmine: while the grass is long & green & wild, and the hillsides are full of wildflowers. And it is just this one kind of Jasmine, Pink Jasmine (Jasminum polyanthum) wildly growing over fences with reckless abandon that surpasses all others.

The delicate Jasmine blooms will not last when Summer's heat is upon us. So, this is the time to enjoy their heady fragrance in Southern California.